A beloved Ocean City tradition is underway as seven contestants compete in this year's Miss Night in Venice Charity competition, working to raise funds for 13 local organizations over the next five weeks.
The annual event, which has been a fixture in our community since 1996, has collectively raised more than $1 million for local charities through participant fundraising efforts. This year's competition brings together young women ages 15 to 25, each dedicated to making a difference through grassroots fundraising.
Over the coming weeks, contestants will collect monetary donations for their chosen causes. The young woman who raises the highest total will be crowned Miss Night in Venice 2026 during a ceremony at the Ocean City Tabernacle on Monday, July 20.
The newly crowned winner and her court will then take center stage in the 2026 Night in Venice Boat Parade on Saturday, July 25. This year's parade theme, "Stars and Stripes and Christmas Lights," promises a festive blend of patriotic and holiday spirit on the water.
In an exciting expansion of the tradition, the City of Ocean City is sponsoring two new pageants this year: Little Miss Night in Venice and Junior Miss Night in Venice. Both are being described as inaugural pageants, opening the door for younger participants to join in the celebration.
The Miss Night in Venice Charity competition has long been intertwined with one of Ocean City's signature summer events. The titleholder's appearance in the Night in Venice Boat Parade connects the charitable mission to the waterfront celebration that draws enthusiastic local participation each year.
Community members interested in learning more about the Miss Night in Venice Charity can reach out via email at nightinvenicecommit@gmail.com or visit missnightinvenice.com/contact/. Information about the contest, the new pageants, and related events is available through those channels as we count down to the July 20 crowning ceremony and the July 25 boat parade.
